Well, you’ve heard me talk about a Tayana 37 more than once. Here is Primo. She is anchored in Linton and has been for a few years. I spoke with the owner because I just hate to see such a fine boat go un-loved. I spoke with him on the phone and he has done a lot of work on her. He replaced the spars, and made a custom aluminum bow sprit. The boat needs TLC, but from my understanding the sails, rig, and engine (Yanmar) are good. I haven’t seen the interior but for 35k it cant be all that bad. As I said earlier, labor here is cheap and one could really pull Primo into shape quickly. 
You can also leave her anchored in Linton for free. I kind of have a thing about people leaving their boats unattended at anchor, but it is an option.
From what I can see she is a really good opportunity for someone who wants a top notch cruising boat & home for little money. You could come to Panama and stay for a year with out having to check out of the country. I have plenty of tools here and will be working on Splendid about 100 yards away unless I’m in the San Blas, 
doing charters, or running backpackers around.
I’m off to finish my root canal in the morning and may go to PC later in the week to see a specialist about my ears.
I’m kind of bumming about about the prospect of cruising in Portugal and other EU countries. A Canadian cruiser in Portugal has contacted me and given me loads of real first-hand information. The coast guard is photographing boats in anchorages and putting time limits on how long one can stay anchored in an anchorage, sound familiar? I can visit for 90 days without a visa but would need one to stay longer, and if Splendid was there over 18 months I would have to pay a VAT tax which would be quite expensive. I cant see staying there so long but one never knows. I could have health issues, motor issues, a dismasting (God forbid), who knows. The bottom line is they could take my boat (home) if I didn’t pay what the “they” thought was appropriate for Splendid. With my insignificant means I don’t want to support such a system. It seems that its getting harder and harder to live as a free man in the world. It’s one thing to ask for money, it’s another to take it and that seems to be what many governments think is appropriate these days.
SE Asia is the wild west of cruising and is becoming quite appealing to me. Truthfully I’d rather take my chances with pirates and malaria than police, but that’s just me. I’ve heard wonderful things about indo-china, Philippians, and Vietnam. If anyone has information to share please let me know.
Peace from Splendid.
Sail far and live freely.
– Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
Alex,
Just read a thread on Viet Nam, sounds like your kinda place!
forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=116232&hl=viet%20nam&st=0
Best,
John
Saw an episode of BBC Top Gear a while back and they did a special in Vietnam. Spectacular!
Alex,
I was referring to anchorages ONLY in SOUTHERN PORTUGAL (Algarve) where some people have begun parking their boats semi-permanently and started looking like boat junkyards.
The problem is that the ALGARVE only has (in my opinion) 3 or 4 all-weather anchorages and you’d simply need to move once in a while. I also don’t know if it applies to the Culatra anchorage.
This rule only started last year, so the coast guard may have decided it’s not worth the bother.
Nobody is going to hassle you at other anchorages…simply because nobody stays very long.
Ahhh, thanks for clearing it up Horacio. I’m assuming cruising in EU countries is similar to cruising in the USA where one is policed by multiple agencies. In Florida I was policed by the Coast Guard, state police, local police, and fish & game, there are a few others. It’s a bit exhausting after a while. I don’t like having to constantly explain my actions to government types who are just looking for a way to fine me to raise some money. I know a lot of it has to do with the waters being over populated and you cant have a million boaters anchoring on the coral, sea grass, and pumping overboard. I’m not bagging on the USA or Europe, I just like my life and cruising experience tranquil, its a personal choice.
The US coast Guard showed up in the San Blas recently. A cruiser left his boat at anchor and had a few friends watching it while he went back to the states. The Coast Guard showed up and boarded the boat. They must have seen from satellite that it was in one place for a while and multiple people were coming and going from from the boat. They don’t patrol the area but we all know the “eyes in the sky” are upon us. When they boarded it my friend shouted from his boat “Don’t kick in the door I have a key”, the CG yelled “GET BACK IN YOUR BOAT SIR” and proceeded to bash into the boat. I don’t understand this kind of behavior and find it quite insulting, I don’t want to subject myself to it.
I’m also told I would need insurance to cruise in EU countries, and truthfully I wouldn’t want to cruise in such a place without it. There are a lot of “liability” issues and expensive paint jobs. I’m still considering sailing across the Atlantic, I’m just trying to weigh all the pros and cons. Most of the cruisers here tell me it’s not worth it but I’d really like to see Portugal and cruise the Med. I’m also particularly interested in Turkey and Greece. I just don’t know if I can pull it off.
If I decide to go to Europe I was thinking I could work in the States for a few months to raise the capital, but I don’t want to get stuck again.
Thank you for all of the information.
Man I wish I was in a position to act on a deal such as that. I’m a ways away unfortunately. When I can I’ll be contacting you to ask if you know of any deals like this however. Very cool, thanks!
Hey Alex,
Why not flip a coin…. Heads Pacific, Tails Atlantic…. And see what fate has inshore for you… It’s kept my life interesting! :)
Cheers!
Rick
Rick,
That’s probably what I’ll end up doing. I’ve decided to stop putting so much energy into the refrigeration and wateraker systems. I’ve been in the “get Splendid ready to cruise with a family” mode for so long I forgot how little I actually need.
I’m going to finish the kubota just as a charging motor (it will save me lots of money and is better for the environment)and focus on fairings & painting Splendid. I need a drifter and to re-rig the main sheet and windvane.
Don’t sell your BCC, small boats rule! I need to over simplify Splendid! and start tearing up the sea!
Cheers
does the owner of Primo have imfo, Please ask him to forward to me.
Thanks Alex
Hey dude,
Doesn’t your solar/wind plants supply enough juice for your needs?
It’s AMAZING how little power the new LED lights draw… I changed out all of JUNESSA’s lights to the LEDs and now when i turn EVERY light on, I get around ONE AMP of draw… amazing!
I wanted to install a windvane to cut the energy sucking autopilot, but they cost around $5-8k (I can install a wind generator, couple new solar panels, towable generator and spare tiller pilot for the cost of one windvane. They sure are proud of those windvanes…
Small is PERFECT for ONE to CRUISE THE OCEANS, but SMALL sucks when you what to LIVE ON IT WITH “COMPANY”… I’m always dreaming of the “HOME A FLOAT” like the 37 Tayana or Hans Christian 33 or even WestSail 32.
If you want to live somewhat CHEAP, you might consider the Inside Passage of B.C. and Alaska… sorry, no spear fishing, but drop your hook and something will always bite, Salmon/halibut/trout/crab/Killer Whale… haha You might have to trade in the Aircon for a good heater and your sunscreen will last for years :) I was never harassed by any law enforcement agency (I did watch the Canadian Coast Guard crash into their pier and mess up their NEW PAINT JOB) If you aren’t in any hurry, you can TRY to sail with the huge tides, otherwise you’ll be using up a lot of fuel to power thru the crazy winds and tides. (my trip North then South were both pressured by work schedules, so i motor/sailed pretty much the entire way)
Back to Small vs Large boats…. I’m planning on modifying JUNESSA (professionally) by ripping-out the forward layout and add a double bunk with storage under plus install a composting toilet… (JUNESSA is a Canadian boat with a non-standard BCC layout) I found the workbench takes up so much space and gets little use. I would rather have TWO ROOMS to live out of. Currently I spend 95% of the time in the man cabin (sleep, eat, read, work, dream) so the forward cabin is a waste of real-estate for me. Plus if I ever have “company” onboard, a DOUBLE bunk could come in handy instead of my 4 single bunks (2 settee and 2 quarter berths) The PARDEY’s BCC TALIESIN has the double bunk forward… I have some friends in Hawaii with a 42 Pacific Seacraft that my first reaction when I stepped aboard was “Wow! You can dance in here!” Lots of room!!! However, their expenses JUMP because of the size!!! Slip fees, bottom paint, sail replacement, engine repairs, fuel usage, etc… you know better than most! :)
Can you tell I’m landlocked? Yup! Avoiding the daily ritual of putting on layer after layer of cloths to go out into the minus 20F here in Fairbanks. I watch your two DVD’s along with all the PARDEY DVD’s and LONG WAY ROUND & LONG WAY DOWN DVDs at least once a week to keep up the dream!
“
If you ever get DOWN pop in your DVD and watch the scene as you cross the Equator. “Arrrrrr I did it!!!!!” Will put a HUGE SMILE ON ANY FACE!!!
Cheers!!!
Rick
just watched that scene today and it made me smile too. not a easy thing to do when you have a foot of snow on the ground.
Anyone interested in cruisin SE Asia should read up cruisingunderpower.fastmail.net and email Sue.
Philip and Sue have been cruising there on a budget for around five years now.
Dont let “power” mislead you, both of them are yachties, they just got lazy (imo).
I have emailed Sue and found her helpful and knowledgable on most nations in the region.
Alex, it doesn’t matter which way you go, you will end up in most places if you just keep moving!
Let the winds dictate which way you go.
Mark,
Thanks for the bit of wisdom. Your right it doesn’t matter which way I go. I do a lot of planing and study charts and cruising guides but at the end of the day I always end up making a quick decision and going with my gut. It’s just my process.
I’m going to check out the hostels in Panama City next week and start talking to the managers about backpacker trips. They want $25 a head referral fee but it’s worth it. That will leave me $450 each and I’ll take 5 back packers ($2,250). Minus expenses I’ll probably walk with $1,750 wich will buy me a lot of labor upon my return. I’ll be back in a few weeks.
For the first time since the girls left I really feel emotionally sound. My objectives and perspective are back and I feel the entire storm behind me. I don’t think I want to do the rainy season in Panama again and may go through the canal this summer. Another option is for me to go North in the Pacific as I’ve always wanted to cruise the sea of Cortez, or South and check out Ecuador. The cool thing about Ecuador is it is in the southern hemisphere and I will be leaving at the end of the dry season, entering the dry season again :)
If I were to go North to Mexico I would be sailing into the Pacific hurricane season. Many cruisers have told me its not so bad, as the hurricanes start in Mexico and the are only minor and there are plenty of places to hide. I’ll have to research it a bit.
If I go through the canal I’d like to cross the Pacific again (February/March) but do it a bit higher this time. Marquesas, Kirbaiti, Tuvalu, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, then into Asia. I get excited just writing about it :) A lot less wind there and I will have to use my Drifter a lot and figure out how to become proficient single handing my Spinnaker.
First things first, Clean up Splendid!
Happy Thursday :)
Alex: I just picked up a Canon 7D camera. The first results are more than I ever expected from a DLSR that shoots true 1080 and 18 mp stills. Nice thing is that it uses all my existing Canon EF lenses. I found out their shooting parts of moves and TV shows with the 7D. So if you ever look for a dual purpose camera for Pro results, take a look at it.
The video puts my Canon HD1A HD camera to shame and its so small.
Just thought I’d let you know.
Ben Brown
SCORE!!!!
Christmas came on January 13th for me this year. A friend has
a girl friend coming in a few weeks and is trying to make extra room on his boat. He asked if I was interested in a dive tank compressor. He paid $4,500.00 for it 7 years ago. It’s a Bauer Utilus 10 scuba tank compressor. He said he hadn’t touched it, or tried to start it for years. I told him I’d love it but it was a bad time financially. He said “how about $250.00 and you don’t have to pay me till July, I need it off my boat”? I bought it.
I spent the day cleaning it up but it didn’t even want to try to start. I took the crab off and cleaned it out a few times. By the end of the day I had a beautiful working dive compressor. It runs like a top! I have to have one small part machined (About $40.00) but after that I’m in Business. It came with a complete rebuild kit ($400.00), extra filters for everything, and special compressor oil.
Need an air Fill, $10.00 on Splendid :) It’s the largest portable that Bauer makes and will fill an Aluminum 80 to 3500 psi in 12 minutes. It opens up a world of pneumatic tools, another income stream, not to mention I can dive as much as I want for free. I started diving when I was 15 and was an avid, avid, avid diver to my mid 30’s. I’m really excited.
Today was a good day :) !
Ben,
I know, they are fantastic. When I can pull it togeter and buy something for myself I’m going to get a Canon T2i, the 7D is a bit more expensive. Funny you mentioned it. I was just looking at underwater housings for the T2i. I want to do someting really special for my next film.
Cheers
alex…noticed you didn’t list Hawaii….for someone that is as experienced as you, Hawaii would not be a big problem. there are harbors with moorings on every island….i am not sure about kauai. It is the U.S. and you can work. my boat will be done in another month, and you could fish with me , but after 20 years, i can not say how profitable it would be. If you cruise like in the san blas, or los perles, hawaii is not a problem. if you need a slip every night or expect moorings like b.v.i, this is not california cruising. there used to be a guy here who fished wahoo and bottom fish from his sailboat, and made good money. transient boats are on a points system(you have 22 days in slips around hawaii and i have 15 days, i would get the first slip available). there is anchoring in hilo and kawaihae on the big island. on maui you can anchor off lahaina, and mala warf. molokai has a couple fo small harbors. ohau has plenty of temporary anchoring and state moorings in sand island or keehi lagoon. if you sail inter island you will almost for sure get a slip for the night, or longer. state harbors are cheaper than central america. hawaii, maui and ohau have dry dock facilities. best of all palmyra is only slightly out of the way (my fantasy). my recomendation is go west youg man, go west…..g
oops…ther are no moorings or anchorages inside harbors on lanai and molakai that i know of. kaui has two ports and i stayed ther for 10 days no problem, but that was 25 years ago. again, cruising hawaii is not a big problem, but staying put makes it harder in some places….. if you do come i will see what i can find. moorings for rent or we make you a semi permenent mooring for the season….g
Gary,
I would consider Hawaii, however I’ve heard Hawaii isn’t “cruiser friendly” putting time limits on where and when you can come and go. If you could get me some real info that would be cool. It would be awsome if we could do some fishing :)
I talked to Marcos today and will hook up with him for a beer when I go to PC next week. Give Mavis a kiss for me when she gets back from Cartagena.
Cheers
my bad….there is a 72 hour anchoring limit, except in designated anchorages…..there you can anchor for 90 days at $7 a day(40′ boat)…..there are trancient slips and you can use them for another 90 consecutive days at $13 per day. there is no point system, and as with most hawaiian government agencies they are , well i can’t say that here. i still have to do some checking………………g
HI ALEX ,
I AGREE WITH YOUR PASSION ABOUT SE ASIA . I HAVE BEEN ALL AROUND THE PHILIPPINES , IT ALONE HAS OVER 7000 ISLANDS . IT HAS PLACES ( THE WEST SIDE OF MINDANAO OZAMIZ AND SOUTH ) THAT IS PRETTY MUCH TYPHOON FREE . I AM MARRIED TO A WOMAN FROM THERE AND NO MATTER WHAT THE RUMOR IS IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FREE SPIRITED AREA . LIKE ANY 3RD WORLD COUNTRY THEFT CAN BE A PROBLEM BUT AS SOON AS YOU GET TO KNOW THE FOLKS THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM . THE ONLY WESTERNS THAT HAVE A PROBLEM THERE ARE THE SELF CENTERED PLASTIC TYPES –( THE SAME KIND WE DON’T LIKE ) LIKE GOVERNMENT TYPES CONTROLLING EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE — THEY CALL THEM BIG POOPS .
THE LIVING IS GREAT GOOD WEATHER BEAUTIFUL DIVING AND BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE . IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO GO THAT WAY FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AND I’LL SET YOU UP WITH SOME GREAT NATIVES THERE .
WE PLAN TO HEAD OVER NEXT YEAR ( FROM FLORIDA NOW ) AND SPEND AT LEAST A FEW YEARS IN THAT AREA
LOVE WHAT YOUR DOING
WALLY M
Hey Alex,
I just got back (to Minnesota, brrrrr) from a two week bareboat charter in the Keys on a 41′ Morgan. I love the minimialist life style living on a boat. I sailed from Treasure Harbor on Islemarado to Marathon to Bahia Honda back to Duck Key to Plantation Marina and then back to Treasure Harbor.
I now have the wife convinced to spend six months a year on a boat in the keys to get away from the cold. I am looking at a 42′ Irwin Ketch. I need something roomie for me and the wife. I have read the Irwins are not blue water boats but I need a liveaboard that I can a least roam the Keys with.
Do you or any of your readers have any insight on the Irwin 42′ Ketch? My priorities are center cockpit, aft cabin, ketch rig, shallow draft, under 50k, so what else is there?
Glad to hear you are back on track!
Bill Collins